Control device

ABSTRACT

To reduce the space of a control device having a power circuit ( 2 ) and an electronic component ( 1 ), the power circuit ( 2 ) including components ( 4 ) to which higher currents are applied, in particular currents in the range of 5 A to 70 A, and the electronic component ( 1 ) including a switching logic realized on a circuit board ( 3 ), it is proposed to realize the electrical connections between the components ( 4 ) of the power circuit ( 2 ) by a single-layer pressed screen ( 6 ), to form receptacles ( 7 ) for the contact pins ( 5 ) of the components ( 4 ) in the pressed screen ( 6 ) and to arrange and form the receptacles ( 7 ) in such a way that the components ( 4 ) are held in frictional engagement in the receptacles ( 7 ) and are electrically contacted via the contact pins ( 5 ).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a control device having a power circuit and an electronic component, the power circuit comprising components to which higher currents are applied, in particular currents in the range of 5 A to 70 A, and the electronic component comprising a switching logic realized on a circuit board.

[0002] Control devices for vehicle electrical systems are usually control devices of the type mentioned at the outset. The power circuit includes all the components to which higher currents are applied, i.e., currents between 5 A and 70 A, such as relays and fuses of the window heater, the horn etc. The connections between the components of the power circuit must be configured for these high currents. In practice, stamped strips fabricated from a multi-layer pressed screen have successfully been used as connection paths of the power circuit. At least for some of the components, such as the relays, additional contacting elements are provided, for example in the form of contacts soldered or welded onto the pressed screen. The pins of the external power-circuit connectors are often designed as individual pins. The space and material requirements of this variant are relatively high, which results in relatively high production and assembly costs. The electronic component includes the switching logic for the power circuit. The current load in this case is normally in the range of up to 2 A. The switching logic and also the associated connections are usually realized in the form of a circuit board having etched path structures. The electrical connection between the power circuit and the electronic component is generally realized via a soldered connection between corresponding contact points of the two units. On the one hand, control signals that switch the relays, for example, are transmitted from the switching logic to the power circuit via this soldered connection and, on the other hand, feedback signals from the power circuit, for instance from the relays, are transmitted back to the circuit board, i.e., the switching logic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention proposes a control device of the type set forth at the outset, which has a modular design in that the power circuit and the electronic component are structurally separate from one another. The design of the present invention also allows a marked reduction in the space required for the power circuit; it also requires less material, and reduces the production and assembly effort. As a consequence, the control device of the present invention may be realized in a relatively small size, at relatively low weight, and also relatively low expense.

[0004] In the present invention, this is achieved in that the electrical connections between the components of the power circuit are realized by a single-layer pressed screen. Formed in the pressed screen are receptacles for the contact pins of the components, namely in such a way that the components are held in frictional engagement in the receptacles via the contact pins and are electrically contacted.

[0005] The present invention is based on the recognition that higher currents, as they occur in the power circuit of a control device of the type in question, may also be conducted via stamping strips of a single-layer pressed screen. According to the present invention it is therefore proposed to form all electrical connections between the components of the power circuit in a single-layer pressed screen, using an appropriate layout. Furthermore, it was recognized that it is possible, by an expedient use of pressed-screen technology, to realize a high functionality even in a single-layer pressed screen. Therefore, the present invention proposes that, in addition to the electrical connections, receptacles for the contact pins of the components be formed in the single-layer pressed screen as well. The contact pins of the components are directly inserted in these receptacles of the pressed screen, without additional contacting elements, and held there in frictional engagement and are electrically contacted. In this way, all inputs and outputs of the components of the power circuit may be realized on the side of the pressed screen. This means that the pressed screen is not only used here to establish electrical connections between the components of the power circuit, but is utilized as a carrier for the electrical components as well. By using a single-layer pressed screen according to the present invention to realize the electrical connections between the components and by dispensing with additional contacting elements for the components, the space required for the power circuit is substantially reduced, as is the necessary material and, consequently, the weight of the entire control device, too.

[0006] Basically, there are various possibilities for realizing the control device of the present invention and, in particular, for realizing the pressed screen with the receptacles for the contact pins of the power-circuit components.

[0007] In view of a simple assembly of the power circuit and, in particular, an uncomplicated exchange of defective components, it is advantageous if the connection between the contact pins of a component and the corresponding receptacles in the pressed screen is made to be reversible and releasable again. In an advantageous variant of the present invention that satisfies this requirement, the receptacles for the contact pins are realized in the form of stamping holes in the pressed screen. Formed in the edge region of such a stamped hole are at least two, preferably three, inwardly directed retaining lips, specifically in such a way that the retaining lips exert a clamping effect on a contact pin inserted into the stamped hole. The clamping effect may be advantageously enhanced in that the retaining lips are deformed upon insertion of the contact pin. It is particularly advantageous if the retaining lips are elastically deformable, since the components of the power circuit may then be exchanged in a simple manner, without problems having to be anticipated in the electrical contacting via the pressed screen. The afore-described variants of a receptacle for a contact pin are advantageous also because they are easily realizable in pressed-screen technology.

[0008] In an advantageous further development of the concept underlying the present invention for realizing the power circuit of a control device, the functionality of the single-layer pressed screen is additionally enhanced in that contacting elements for the circuit board of the electronic component are also formed in the pressed screen. In this case, the electrical contacting between the power circuit and the electronic component may be realized simply by partial soldering of the contacting elements formed in the pressed screen to corresponding contacting points of the circuit board. There are no additional auxiliary constructions required for this purpose. In this variant, the transmission of the control signals from the switching logic to the components of the power circuit is also carried out via the pressed screen, namely via the contacting elements for the circuit board of the electronic component, just as their feedback data is transmitted back to the switching logic via the contacting elements formed in the pressed screen.

[0009] Alternatively, or in addition to, the afore-described variant, the functionality of the single-layer pressed screen may also be enhanced by forming connector pins for at least one external power-circuit connector. In this case, the external consumers connected to the power circuit are likewise controlled in the high-current range via the pressed screen, namely the connector pins of the external power-circuit connectors formed in the pressed screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010] As already discussed in more detail above, there are various possibilities for advantageously embodying and further refining the teaching of the present invention. Reference is made in this context to the patent claims depending from claim 1, on the one hand, and to the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention on the basis of the drawing, on the other hand.

[0011] The single drawing shows a perspective partial representation of the power circuit and the electronic component of a control device according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0012] The control device shown in the single FIGURE in a cutaway view is the control device of a vehicle electrical system. It includes two main units, electronic component 1 and power circuit 2.

[0013] Electronic component 1 includes the switching logic for power circuit 2. The current load here is in the range of up to 2 A. The entire switching logic is realized on a circuit board 3, the respective connections being formed by etched path structures.

[0014] Circuit board 3 is arranged in an electronics housing, which is not shown here. Circuit board 3 is positioned in the electronics housing via centering pins and held at the sides of circuit board 3 by means of detent hooks. Arranged on the outside of the electronics housing are connectors that are used for contacting and signal transmission toward the external cable tree. Via a secondary locking slide, the cable-tree connector may additionally be held in locking position and be queried for position accuracy.

[0015] Power circuit 2 unites all components 4 to which higher currents are applied, i.e., currents | having a magnitude of 5 A<|<70 A. These are, for example, relays and fuses for the window heater or the horn.

[0016] According to the present invention, the electrical connections between components 4 of power circuit 2 are realized by a single-layer pressed screen 6. Also formed in pressed screen 6 are receptacles 7 for contact pins 5 of components 4. Components 4 are held in receptacles 7 in frictional engagement and electrically contacted via their contact pins 5.

[0017] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, receptacles 7 for contact pins 5 of components 4 are realized in the form of stamped holes in pressed screen 6. The stamped holes have an essentially semicircular basic form. Three inwardly directed retaining lips 8 are formed in the edge region of each stamped hole. Two of retaining lips 8 are arranged at the curved inner edge of the stamped hole, whereas third retaining lip 8 is arranged in the center between these two retaining lips 8, at the oppositely lying straight inner edge of the stamped hole. Retaining lips 8 are elastically deformable. When a contact pin 5 is plugged in, they are pressed out of the plane of pressed screen 6. In the process, they exert a clamping action on contact pin 5, which ensures a reliable, frictionally engaged affixation and a reliable electrical contacting of component 4 via pressed screen 6. Due to the elastic deformability of retaining lips 8, components 4 may also be exchanged at any time without any problems.

[0018] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the electrical interface between power circuit 2 and electronic component 1 is likewise realized with the aid of pressed screen 6. For this purpose, contacting elements 9 for circuit board 3 of electronic component 1 are formed in pressed screen 6. Contacting elements 9 are pins that are bent out of the plane of pressed screen 6 and soldered to corresponding contacting points 10 of circuit board 3. Furthermore, connector pins 11 for the external power-circuit connectors are formed out from pressed screen 6.

[0019] As in the case of circuit board 3 of electronic component 1, pressed screen 6 with components 4 of power circuit 2 is also arranged in a housing that is likewise not shown here. The power-circuit housing is made up of a base plate and a cover, which may be clipped to each other, so that components 4 of the power circuit are easily accessible. Pressed screen 6 with components 4 is inserted between the two housing components and held there by form locking, the demands on tolerance compensation being taken into account.

[0020] Connector pins 11 for the external power-circuit connectors project from the base plate of the power-circuit housing and, together with the plastic receptacles realized on the outside of the base plate, form the device-connector collar. Here, too, analogously to electronic component 1, a locking slide may be provided to query the cable tree connector position.

[0021] In summary, it can be said that the control device concept of the present invention supports a modular design that has a clear separation between electronic component and power circuit. The space required for the power circuit can be reduced to a minimum as a result of the measures according to the present invention, which results in substantial savings in material compared to known control device realizations. This lowers the manufacturing and assembly costs as well.

[0022] The main component of the concept according to the present invention is a single-layer stamped screen, which has a plurality of functions within the framework of the power circuit. For instance, the stamped screen, as is also the case in conventional design technology, is used to realize the electrical connections of the components of the power circuit. At the same time, however, the stamped screen also constitutes the carrier for these components. In contrast to conventional design technology, no additional auxiliary elements are utilized. Furthermore, the electrical contacting between the power circuit and the electronic component may also be realized with the aid of the pressed screen. It is also possible to form all connector pins of the external power circuit connectors in the pressed screen. Within the framework of the concept of the present invention, the pressed screen thus takes on an integrating function between the power circuit and the electronic component, the components, such as relays, and the external control via the power-circuit connector. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A control device having a power circuit (2) and an electronic component (1), the power circuit (2) comprising components to which higher currents are applied, in particular currents in the range of 5 A to 70 A, and the electronic component (1) comprising a switching logic realized on a circuit board (3), wherein the electrical connections between the components (4) of the power circuit (2) are realized by a single-layer pressed screen (6), receptacles (7) for the contact pins (5) of the components (4) are formed in the pressed screen (6) and the receptacles (7) are arranged and configured in such a way that the components (4) are held in frictional engagement in the receptacles (7) via the contact pins (5) and electrically contacted.
 2. The control device as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection between the contact pins (5) of a component (4) and the corresponding receptacles (7) in the pressed screen (6) is implemented so as to be reversible and releasable again.
 3. The control device as recited in one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the receptacle (7) for a contact pin (5) is realized in the form of a stamped hole in the pressed screen (6), in whose edge region at least two, preferably three, inwardly directed retaining lips (8) are formed.
 4. The control device as recited in claim 3, wherein the retaining lips (8) are deformable, especially elastically deformable.
 5. The control device as recited in one of claims 1 through 4, wherein contacting elements (9) for the circuit board (3) of the electronic component (1) are formed in the pressed screen (6).
 6. The control device as recited in claim 5, wherein the electrical contacting between the power circuit (2) and the electronic component (1) is realized by partial soldering of the contacting elements (9) formed in the pressed screen (6) to corresponding contacting points (10) of the circuit board (3).
 7. The control device as recited in one of claims 1 through 6, wherein connector pins (11) for at least one external power-circuit connector are formed in the pressed screen (6).
 8. The use of a control device as recited in one of claims 1 through 7 as a control device for a vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle. 